The U.S. Department of State has issued a strong warning to prospective adoptive parents, urging them to reconsider intercountry adoptions from Haiti due to extreme instability and ongoing safety concerns.
In its latest advisory released April 22, the Department cited the closure or limited operation of Haitian government offices and courts essential to the adoption process. These disruptions follow the deterioration of conditions in Haiti since March 2, 2024, when the country entered a new phase of crisis and declared a state of emergency.
“Adoption from Haiti is a long process in a dangerous environment that impedes processing,” the Department previously stated on April 14. The average intercountry adoption from Haiti already took approximately four years, and officials say the timeline has only grown longer due to violent unrest, gang activity, and systemic breakdowns in public services.
Since November 2024, commercial flights in and out of Port-au-Prince have been suspended. U.S. embassy personnel remain restricted in their movements and are barred from using public transportation or entering large parts of the capital. Meanwhile, Foreign Supervised Providers (FSPs)—the individuals and agencies responsible for navigating adoption cases through courts and government offices—are facing increased difficulty operating safely.
“There may be times where FSPs are unable to advance cases as security conditions compel them to shelter in place,” the Department warned. “The Department of State has no capacity to provide security or transportation to FSPs involved in case processing.”
The challenges extend to children and their biological families. According to the advisory, minors awaiting adoption are required to travel for court appearances, passport interviews, and medical exams—each of which presents serious safety risks. Birth relatives must often make multiple trips to testify in court, further compounding the danger and delay.
Although some Haitian government entities involved in the adoption process are functioning at limited capacity, the U.S. notes there is “no timeline for when they will resume full operations.”
The State Department’s Travel Advisory for Haiti has remained at Level 4 – Do Not Travel – since March 2020, and officials continue to urge U.S. citizens currently in the country to leave as soon as it is safe to do so.
Prospective adoptive families are being encouraged to consider other countries where adoption procedures can be completed safely and within a more predictable timeline.
For the latest updates and guidance, the Department recommends visiting its Intercountry Adoption website and monitoring travel advisories closely.
